Port of Spain, 26 April 2024 (PAHO) – On 16 April 2024, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) received a request from the Ministry of Health of Trinidad and Tobago to support its investigation at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of the Port of Spain General Hospital, following the occurrence of seven newborn deaths during the week of 2-9 April 2024.
Following consultations with Trinidad and Tobago’s Ministry of Health, and in furtherance of its technical cooperation mandate, a PAHO organized mission comprised of international experts in infection prevention and control (IPC), epidemiology, microbiology and newborn intensive care, was deployed. The in-country mission started on 22 April 2024.
The expected outcome of the mission, defined together with national authorities, is to support the identification of potential causes, prevent further cases, provide recommendations and a technical cooperation plan to strengthen the quality of neonatal care, including IPC, microbiology laboratory and antimicrobial use within the Port of Spain General Hospital.
The in-country mission is ongoing and expected to conclude on 26 April 2024. PAHO will then provide recommendations, in the Final Report, to the Ministry of Health of Trinidad and Tobago. The Organization stands ready to support Trinidad and Tobago health authorities in strengthening capacities to improve health care delivery.
As part of its technical cooperation mandate and in close collaboration with national authorities, PAHO supports its Member States in matters related to public health. This includes the review of adverse events in health service delivery, with a shared goal of providing immediate, medium, and long-term recommendations to improve health outcomes.
